Drapery hardware



Feb. 11, 1964 G. P. DEL FARO ETAL 3,120,940

DRAPERY HARDWARE Original Filed July 30, 1956 T1 2 if? I i a 2 1? g H I 24 i i /jg d Z lo 32 1;

.14 U/ I c? jd f 60200 9 DE Fzo 055.27 5. Mam/HE James /V/. CO/VQWAV United States Patent 3,120,940 DRAPERY HARDWARE Gordon P. Del Faro and Robert E. Moline, North Hollywood, Calif., and James M. Conaway, Union Creek, Oreg. (12955 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, Calif.); said Moline assignor to said Del Faro Original application July 30, 1956, Ser. No. 600,920, now Patent No. 2,980,946, dated Apr. 25, 1961. Divided and this application Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,463 2 Claims. (Cl. 248207) The present invention relates generally to the field of drapery hardware and in particular to a device of the type known as a traverse rod bracket.

This application is a division of our co-pending application for Drapery Hardware, Serial No. 600,920, filed July 30, 1956, now Patent No. 2,980,946, granted April 25, 1961, and relates particularly to a traverse rod or track bracket disclosed in said co-pending application.

As set forth in said co-pending application, one of the significant difficulties of installing drapery traverse rods or tracks has been due to the great number of special parts which have been used in prior devices. This ex cessive number of special parts also requires dealers to carry a corresponding inventory. One of the chief offenders in this regard has been the means for supporting the traverse rod or track; that is, a given bracket could only be used for wall or for ceiling or for left-hand or for right-hand mounting.

A major object of'the present invention is to provide a universally mountable bracket that can be applied to either end of a drapery rod or track to support said rod or track from a wall or from a ceiling.

Another object is to provide a bracket of the aforesaid nature that is simple of design and rugged of construction.

Another object is to provide a bracket of the aforesaid nature that can be manufactured at low cost.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, :when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of mounting bracket embodying the present invention showing the manner of its use in supporting a drapery rod or track from a ceiling;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line '2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of said bracket showing the manner of its use in supporting a drapery rod or track from a wall; the track and a traverse rod mastercarrier supported thereby, being shown in section.

In FIGURE 3, there is shown, in section, a drapery rod or track T and a tracksupported carrier M, such as are shown and described in detail in the aforementioned patent application Serial No. 600,920, the showing being repeated herein to illustrate one adaptation of our improved bracket B; but this is not to be considered as in any way limi-tative on the bracket, per se.

The rod or track T includes a rear wall 36, a lower wall 38, a front wall 40, and an upper wall 42. The carrier M, which suspends a fold of drapery material (not shown), is provided with pull-cord means (not shown) whereby the carrier is caused to traverse track T and thus open or close the drapes.

The master carrier is composed of a plate 44, wheels 46a and 46b, and a retainer arm 48. The lower edge of plate 44 has a projecting section 54 developing into a stepped-back area 56 having a hole 58 formed the-rein. Plate 44 also carries a post 62, a flange 64 and a guide element 72.

It is the function of the bracket B, when used, for in- "ice stance, in association with a load such as is represented by the track T and its appendages, to support said track rigidly from a wall or ceiling.

The bracket B includes a base 10 and a movable member 12 that is adjustably mounted thereon. Base 10 has a rectangular section 14 which is adapted to be placed in flush contact with a ceiling surface 15 (FIGURE 1) or a wall surface 17 (FIGURE 3). The section 14 is pierced to receive screws 16, by means of which the bracket B is securely aflixed to the ceiling or wall surface.

Base ilil also has an elongate rectangular section '18 that is normal to the first-mentioned section 14. The section 13 is formed with a pair of longitudinally extending, centrally disposed slots 20 for a purpose presently to be set forth.

The movable member 12 is similar to base 10 in overall configuration in that it includes an elongate rectangular section 22 and is angularly related to an integrally formed track supported section 24. The section 22 is of substantially the same width as section 18 of base 10 and at its center is formed with a threaded hole 26, seen in FIGURE 1. An adjustment screw 28 slidably passes through either one of slots 20 of base 10 to engage the threaded hole 26 and can be tightened to secure movable member 12, in adjusted position, to the base. As is apparent, the adjustment screw can be passed through either slot 20 and permits movable member '12 to be adjusted throughout a long range, toward or away from the surface on which the bracket is mounted.

Section 22 of movable member 12 is adapted to be adjustably mounted on base 10 in either of two positions so that the track T can be supported from either a wall or the ceiling of the room. As has been pointed out, the section 22 is of substantially the same width as section 18 and base 10. On both of its longitudinal edges, section 22 is formed with a pair of flanges 30, the two pairs of flanges being oppositely disposed in confronting relationship. It will also be noted that the spacing between each pair of flanges 30 on each side of section 22 is equal to the width of section 18 and base 10. By means of this construction section 22 can be mounted parallel to or at right angles to the section 18. Thus, if base 10 is mounted on a ceiling as in FIGURE 1, section 22 is fastened thereto at a right angle with respect to section 18; section 18 being received between flanges 30 in a manner whereby this angular relationship is maintained.

On the other hand, if base 10 is mounted on a wall, section 22 is fastened thereto in parallel relation with respect to section 18 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 section 18 being received between flanges 30 in a manner whereby this parallel re-lation is maintained.

The track-supporting section 24 of movable member 12 is also rectangular and extends vertically both above and below the edges of section 22. The lower end of section 24 has a forwardly projecting lip 32, which extends horizontally whether the brackets be supported from a wall or from a ceiling, and hence, under either condition, provides a rest for track T. In the illustrated, though not limitative, installation of FIGURE 3, the lower wall 38 of the track is supported on lip 32, while the rear wall of the track engages the forward face of section 24 of the movable bracket-member 12. The upper edge of track wall 36 lies behind the head of a mounting screw 34 which is carried at the upper end of section 24. By tightening screw 34, the track is securely held against lateral displacement from the bracket.

While the form of the embodiment herein shown and described constitutes the presently preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adapted, falling within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A bracket for a drapery rod or track, comprising: a base that includes a portion that projects outwardly at right angles to said base and to the surface to which said base is afiixed; a member having a lip to be horizontally disposed for operation; and flanges formed on said memher for receiving the projected portion of said base in either of two relative positions such that said lip is horizontally disposed regardless of whether said base is ai'fixed to a vertical or a horizontal surface.

2. A bracket for a drapery rod or track, comprising: a base that includes a portion that projects outwardly at right angles to said base and to the surface to which said base is affixed, a member having a lip to be horizontally disposed for operation; and means including spaced flanges on said member for receiving the projected por- 4 tion of said base in either of two relative positions and aligned openings in said base and member for receiving fastening means, whereby said member can be adjustably connected to said projecting portion such that the lip is horizontally disposed regardless of whether said base is aflixed to a vertical or a horizontal surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 448,550 Scott Mar. '17, 1891 2,484,855 Press Oct. 18, 1949 2,602,499 Ault July 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 521,156 Great Britain May 14, 1940 

1. A BRACKET FOR A DRAPERY ROD OR TRACK, COMPRISING: A BASE THAT INCLUDES A PORTION THAT PROJECTS OUTWARDLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID BASE AND TO THE SURFACE TO WHICH SAID BASE IS AFFIXED; A MEMBER HAVING A LIP TO BE HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED FOR OPERATION; AND FLANGES FORMED ON SAID MEMBER FOR RECEIVING THE PROJECTED PORTION OF SAID BASE IN EITHER OF TWO RELATIVE POSITIONS SUCH THAT SAID LIP IS HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SAID BASE IS AFFIXED TO A VERTICAL OR A HORIZONTAL SURFACE. 